- One Palestinian civilian was killed by IOF.
- A number of Palestinian civilians were injured by IOF.
- Construction of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued and at least 260 donums (1 donum is equal to 1000 square meters) of land were confiscated in Bethlehem and Jerusalem for this purpose.
- IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas.
- At least 27 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF.
- 3 Palestinian civilians were used by IOF as human shields.
- Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank and more areas of Palestinian land were confiscated in Hebron.
- IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF positioned at checkpoints arrested 16 Palestinian civilians and injured one, and IOF have continued to use a special checking machine at Rafah International Crossing Point.
Introduction:
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks on Palestinian civilians and property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). IOF willfully killed a Palestinian civilian in Hebron. This week, human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included shooting at Palestinian civilians, incursions into Palestinian areas, house raids and arbitrary arrests. In violation of international law and humanitarian law, IOF have also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory and confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose. They have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. This week, IOF used three Palestinian civilians as human shields in military operations in the OPT.
On 25 April 2005, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Hebron. The victim lost control over his car and was not able to stop it when he was surprised by an Israeli military checkpoint, so IOF opened fire at him. IOF claimed first that the victim ran down an Israeli soldier. Then, they stated that “lived bullets were found in the soldier’s head fired by his colleagues who were on duty” and that “it is possible that this was the cause of his death.”
This week, IOF conducted at least 20 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, the widest of which was into Balata refugee camp near Nablus on 21 April 2005. IOF raided and searched a number of houses and opened fire at Palestinian civilians. As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded and 27 others were arrested. On 23 April 2005, IOF used two Palestinian civilians as human shields while raiding a photo exhibition in Yassid village near Nablus. On 27 April 2005, IOF used a third civilian as human shield while raiding a flour company in the Gaza Strip.
IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. On Sunday, 24 April 2005, IOF issued military orders confiscating 80 donums of agricultural land in al-Ja’ba village near Bethlehem, and 181 donums in Beit Sourik village near Jerusalem for the purpose of the construction of the wall. This week, IOF published a planning map for Kherbat Jebara village, south of Tulkarm, which has been isolated behind the wall. According to the local council of the village, the map ignored 30 out of the 60 houses of the village and areas of land devoted for public projects, such as an elementary school and a clinic. In addition, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the wall.
Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. This week, IOF confiscated eight donums of Palestinian land in Hebron for the purpose of settlement expansion. Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian schoolchildren in Hebron, injuring two of them. They also attacked and seriously injured an old Palestinian man in Beit Dajan village near Nablus.
IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians. They closed checkpoints on the main road in the Gaza Strip several times this week. They also fired at Palestinian civilians waiting at the checkpoints, injuring one. IOF also arrested four Palestinian civilians at Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border.
In the West Bank, IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They closed al-Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron for three days. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians as well as erecting a number of sudden military checkpoints. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested 12 of them, including two children.
Read full report at:
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR).